South Australia captain Travis Head scored an attacking 132 against Queensland on the first day of Sheffield Shield cricket ever played at Cazaly's Stadium in Cairns. Although the ground hosted two Test matches in the Australian winters of 2003 and 2004, this is the first Shield game in the stadium's history, and the opening day ended with South Australia on 8 for 328, with Alex Carey on 39 and Chadd Sayers on 3.

Queensland legspinner Mitch Swepson achieved the first five-wicket haul of his first-class career and finished with 5 for 106. He bowled Callum Ferguson for 45 and fellow spinner Charlie Hemphrey had opener John Dalton caught for 53 to have the Redbacks at 3 for 114, after opener Jake Weatherald had departed in the fourth over of the game.

But a 136-run partnership between Head and Jake Lehmann steadied South Australia, and Head brought up his century from his 130th delivery. However, next ball Lehmann fell for 43 when he was bowled shouldering arms to Marnus Labuschagne, and Tom Cooper was lbw to Swepson for a duck in the next over.

Swepson later had Head lbw and then claimed the lower-order wickets of Joe Mennie and Adam Zampa late in the day. Queensland entered the match second on the Shield table, while South Australia sit in fourth position.